David Michael Booth

He grew up in Cleburne attending Henderson Street Baptist Church and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at age 12. After graduating from Cleburne High School in 1960, Mike enrolled in Texas A&M University to pursue a degree in meteorology. Each summer while attending A&M, he worked as a Meteorological Student Trainee for the National Weather Service. While attending A&M, Mike was a member of the Corps Of Cadets attaining the rank of Cadet Major. In May 1964, Mike graduated with a BS degree in Meteorology and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Shortly thereafter he married his longtime sweetheart Jacksie Ritchmond and together they began their journey of military life at Mike’s first duty assignment as a military meteorologist at Sewart AFB in Smyrna, TN.

In 1968, Mike returned to Texas A&M under the Armed Forces Institute of Technology program graduating in 1970 with his Master of Science degree in Meteorology. Mike served at several Air Force bases including a tour of duty at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Base in Thailand. Mike was also a graduate of the Squadron Officer School and the Air Command and Staff College. He retired in 1989 while stationed at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth serving as the 7th Bomb Wing Staff Weather Officer and Commander of the base weather detachment after 25 years of service attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He received several awards during his service including three Air Force Commendation Medals and two Meritorious Service Medals. In 1989, Mike received the Operational Achievement award from the National Weather Association for outstanding achievement in operational performance.

After a brief period of retirement, Mike began his second career working for American Airlines in Fort Worth as an aviation meteorologist retiring in 2003. After his retirement, Mike and Jacksie continued their travel experiences and have visited every state in the Union. They also went on cruises to Alaska, New England/Canada, Panama Canal, and around the British Isles. One of the excursions included a visit to the Normandy Battlefield and Cemetery; a place Mike had always wanted to visit. Mike and Jacksie have been members of Wedgwood Baptist Church since 1984 where he taught adult Sunday School for many years until his physical condition forced him to quit. In 2014, Mike was diagnosed with a rare muscle disease known as sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jacksie, his daughter Michael Ann Jameson and husband Ron of Fort Worth, his son David L. Booth and wife Alicia of Lavon, Tx and seven grandchildren; Caitlyn Jameson, Courtney Hunter and husband Caleb, Tanner Booth, Emmalee Booth, Connor Jameson, Hunter Roy and Reece Roy.